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Sunday, May 13, 2012

Faridabad is an industrial city in the south-east of Haryana state
sharing its border with New Delhi. There are lots of factories and has
considerable worker population. It has
two Railway stations – the Faridabad NIT and Old Faridabad station. The road to Mathura from Delhi passes through
this town. It is a well planned city
with neatly laid roads with parallel roads and crossings symmetrically made.

As I have been writing, this IPL has been more
entertaining than others. – so many new
players have emerged successful and many matches are fought intensely. A major part is over – 60 matches out of 72
preliminary gone. On a Sunday afternoon,
relaxedly watched Rajasthan Royals play Pune Warriors and in the end it was not
defeat but disgrace for the Subrata Roy sponsored team.

One cannot be faulted for not recognizing or not
knowing Chandila. I too was surprised
when this offie opened the bowling. Many
spinners do open the bowling in IPL – but still this man bowled 4 overs on the trot
and by the time he finished his spell, was sort of assured of the Man of the
Match. Born in 1983, he hails from
Faridabad and had earlier played for Delhi Daredevils.

Before that, an outstanding fielding effort
deserves greater mention. It was the
last ball of the 18th over and the result was foregone conclusion. Rahul Sharma swung at a slower one from Shane
Watson and the ball was soaring over long-off.
Johan Botha jumped in the air, got hold of the ball, the momentum was
taking him out – realizing, he threw the ball towards the other fielder running
in – not sure whether it was by chance or by choice, Ajinkya Rahane was running
in took the ball and completed the catch.
Record books will read R Sharma caught Rahane b Watson – but all credit
to Botha for that stupendous effort.

Playing first Rajasthan Royals sailed to a strong
position with half-centuries by Watson and Rahane. A target
was certainly challenging enough but the way Pune folded is regrettable. Ganguly walked with Jesse Ryder and little
known Chandila came on to bowl the first over.
3rd ball there was a vociferous appeal against Ganguly turned
out. Off the 5th Jesse Ryder
lofted and gave a catch to mid-on; the next ball Sreevats Goswami (who was on
air speaking to the commentary team) made a neat stumping to rattle
Ganguly. Much was to follow. Of the 3rd over, Sreevats was to
effect another stumping beating Uthappa
and providing Chandila his hat-trick, incidentally, the first of this
IPL season.

Somewhere around heard that Rahane has hit most no.
of boundaries this season and earlier heard that Irfan Pathan has given most
fours (not sure whether this season or overall IPL !! – dubious fame to the
overpaid allrounder). In the 5th
over, Chandila had another wicket – this time Majumdar hitting back to the bowler.
His figures of 4-0-13-4 earned him the Man of the Match